Graduate Jobs in Business & Commerce, South Africa
Business & Commerce can be studied at both graduate and undergraduate levels. Some positions usually require applicants to have a master’s degree in business, but it is still possible for individuals with interest in business & commerce to land a management position in smaller businesses even without a university education. Job seekers may get preference based on the relevancy and extent of their education.
Skills Required
Individuals who want to land a job in business & commerce should have excellent mathematics and communication skills and be customer service-oriented. Technology is often used at all business levels and thus, employees should be computer savvy. Some jobs also require employees to be knowledgeable of certain computer applications and bookkeeping software.
Degree Choices
There are various course options and majors for students studying business degrees. Students can study finance, accounting, economics and real estate at undergraduate level. Operations management, entrepreneurship and marketing can be studied at graduate level. Many business programs have general courses that students could find beneficial, for example quantitative methods, macroeconomics and organisational behavior.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business Finance – This program focuses on how public or private businesses raise and maintain resources. Students who earn a B.S. in finance are eligible for positions in the finance department of small and large companies. Courses cover financial principles, business statistics, investment, finance for small businesses, insurance and financial markets. Graduates can become a corporate investment expert, corporate portfolio manager or financial services expert.
- Associate Degree in Business – Students learn social sciences, core content areas such as art, humanities and sciences and practical business information. Courses cover banking, economics, communication, business mathematics, accounting and business management. Graduates can work in the finance, banking and accounting fields.
- Master of Business Administration – MBA programs aim to develop the communication, leadership and organisational skills needed for executive or management positions. These programs consist of calculus, economics, statistics and econometrics. Majors are available in marketing, finance and specialised business areas.
- Master of Science in Finance – Students are trained to work as a manager or financial analyst by providing a comprehensive understanding of market conditions as well as the causes of these conditions.
Career Options
The field of business & commerce presents many career options for graduates.
- Marketing Manager – Marketing managers participate in developing advertising campaigns, choosing media outlets to promote the company’s service or products and creating strategies that help the organisation meet their sales goals. They need to have strong presentation, communication and sales skills.
- Certified Auditor – Certified auditors assess the financial records and operations of organisations for compliance to government regulations, efficiency and accuracy. They evaluate financial statements, inventory, payrolls and other vital records to expose opportunities for higher profitability and any illegal activity.
- Merchandising Manager – Merchandising managers choose the products sold in stores. They maintain budgets and oversee employee relations. Merchandising managers should be knowledgeable about the company goals and needs.
Salary
Salaries vary widely. For instance, the median salary for accountants is R228, 582. For operations managers, the average salary is R310, 394. Bookkeepers on the other hand, may earn R139, 909 per year.
Business and Commerce Graduate Programmes by Location